Process and machine for water proofing semimanufactured footwear, clothing items and accessories, and semimanufactured products obtained with said process or machine

ABSTRACT

Process for waterproofing semimanufactured footwear, clothing items and accessories, said semimanufactured product having a three-dimensional conformation with at least one inner surface and one outer surface, which comprises the following operative steps: 
         arranging the semimanufactured product onto a shaped support ( 14; 27, 28; 30, 31 ) with at least one waterproofing sheath ( 18 ) shaped for entirely or partially cover the surfaces to be waterproofed of the semimanufactured product, at least one glue layer being arranged between these surfaces and the waterproofing sheath ( 18 );    pressing between two deformable plates ( 2, 2 ′) the semimanufactured product provided with the waterproofing sheath ( 18 ) and arranged on the shaped support ( 14; 27, 28; 30, 31 ). The present invention also relates to a machine that carries out said process, as well as the semimanufactured products obtained with said process or machine.

The present invention relates to a process for waterproofingsemimanufactured footwear, clothing items and accessories, in particularduring their manufacture. The present invention also relates to amachine that carries out said process, as well as the semimanufacturedproducts obtained with said process or machine.

WO 00/22948 discloses a process for waterproofing leather andsemimanufactured products made up of pieces of leather sewn to eachother. This known process comprises a pressing onto the inner surface ofthe leather of at least one semipermeable membrane, whose surfacecontacting the leather is provided with a glue pattern. With thisarrangement a suitable transpiration of the leather is achieved also inthe zones where it is glued to the membrane.

WO 02/11571 discloses instead a process and a device for waterproofingsemimanufactured products made of leather or fabric, also joined withother materials, which cannot be completely spread on a table since theyhave already taken during the manufacture a three-dimensionalconformation with at least one inner surface and one outer surface. Atypical example of said manufactured products are the uppers offootwear, considered in their final working step, before the applicationof an inner lining, if any. Other semimanufactured products of this kindcan be boot uppers, gloves, hats and clothes in general in the finalstep of their manufacture. Said process comprises the inside out turningof the semimanufactured product and the introduction of a suitablyshaped member before the pressing, so as to waterproof thesemimanufactured product even if it has already taken athree-dimensional conformation. Said device includes instead a pressprovided with deformable plates made up of a hollow body having anelastic pressing surface urged outwards by hot air under pressure.

However, said known processes and device, so as they are disclosed insaid patent applications, are not particularly suitable per se for anindustrial application on a large scale, where a high automation degreeis necessary for trying to reduce the manufacture times and costs.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a processand a machine free from said disadvantages, i.e. which can be easilyapplied to an industrial production. Said object is achieved with aprocess and a machine, the main features of which are described inclaims 1 and 18, respectively, while other features are described in theremaining claims.

Thanks to the use of the particular waterproofing sheath shaped andprovided with glue, the process and the machine according to the presentinvention can waterproof the semimanufactured products in a simple andquick manner, so as to allow their automated production, especially ifthe glue is thermoactivable.

The machine according to the present invention is particularly suitablefor the automated production thanks to the deformable plates which arepivoted to a support structure and can press a mobile shaped supportsuitable for supporting the semimanufactured product and thewaterproofing sheath during the pressing.

According to a particular aspect of the invention, the deformable platescan rotate around a substantially vertical axis and the shaped membercan run on horizontal rails, so that the operator can easily arrange thesemimanufactured product and the waterproofing sheath on the samesupport.

According to another particular aspect of the invention, the machine isprovided with two shaped supports which can be pressed alternately, sothat while the first one is pressed, the second one is prearranged bythe operator with the semimanufactured product and the waterproofingsheath, and vice versa, so as to double the productivity.

According to a further particular aspect of the invention, the devicesfor the movement of the mobile components of the machine are driven in apneumatic manner, so as to simplify its maintenance and to improve itsreliability. Further, the particular arrangement of the machine partsprevents the accidental access to the pressing device, so as to improvethe overall security.

Another advantage of the process and the machine according to thepresent invention lies not only in their high productivity, but also inthe relatively low costs for their carrying out, so that they can beemployed not only in the industrial production, but also in thehandicraft production, in particular of footwear.

Further advantages and features of the process and the machine accordingto the present invention will become clear to those skilled in the artfrom the following detailed and non-limiting description of anembodiment thereof with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a side view of said machine;

FIG. 2 shows a top view of the machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the pressing device of the machine of FIG.1;

FIG. 4 shows a view sectioned along plane IV-IV of the pressing deviceof FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 shows a side view of a second shaped support for the machine ofFIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a third shaped support.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, it is seen that the machine according to thepresent embodiment of the invention comprises in a known way a pressingdevice 1 having at least one pair of deformable plates 2, 2′ made up ofa hollow body, for example having the shape of a spherical cap, thepressing surface 3 of which is elastic, for instance made of silicone oranother elastic, antiadherent and heat-resistant material. A fluid, inparticular air, coming from a compressor (not shown in the figures) canbe pumped through one or more inlet ducts 4 provided with pneumaticvalves (not visible in the figures) into the deformable plates 2, 2′,after it has been heated by at least one electric heat exchanger 5.

According to the invention, at least one of the deformable plates 2, 2′is pivoted to a vertical support structure 6 so as to rotate (in thedirection of the arrows of FIG. 2) around a substantially vertical axisfor opening or closing the pressing device 1 during the pressing steps.For this purpose, four arms 7, flat and curved, are fixed outside thedeformable plate 2 and two arms 7′, also flat and curved, are fixedoutside the deformable plate 2 at suitable height so that each arm 7′ isarranged between two of the four arms 7. The ends of arms 7, 7′ close tothe vertical support 6 are perforated, so that at least one pin 8,around which the deformable plates 2, 2′ can rotate, can be inserted inthe holes made at one of the two ends. In the present embodiment thedeformable plates 2, 2′ rotate around a single pin 8, i.e. around a samesubstantially vertical axis. The piston of one or more pneumaticcylinders 9 acting as bolts for locking the deformable plates 2, 2′ whenthey are closed can penetrate into the holes arranged at the end of arms7, 7′ opposite to the support structure 6 and prevent their accidentalopening due to the high pressure between the pressing surfaces 3. At theend of the pressing, the fluid contained in the deformable plates 2, 2′can be discharged outside through one or more outlet ducts 10, 10′provided with pneumatic valves (not visible in the figures) and meansfor cooling and/or dispersing the hot fluid.

The support structure 6 is joined at the end of a horizontal platform 11on which at least one rail, preferably two rails 12, 12′ convergingtoward the pressing device 1, are arranged. A carriage 13 driven in apneumatic way can run on each rail 12, 12′ for alternately transportingto the same central position between the deformable plates 2, 2′ of thepressing device 1 two shaped supports 14 mounted onto carriages 13 bymeans of a flat rod 15. Pneumatic sensors 16 are arranged at the ends ofrails 12, 12′ for detecting the position of carriages 13. A controlpanel 17 arranged on platform 11 comprises two buttons for controllingthe movement of carriages 13, as well as a security button for stoppingthe working of the whole machine.

The shaped supports 14 have a shape suitable for supporting asemimanufactured product made of leather or fabric having athree-dimensional conformation with at least one inner surface and oneouter surface, for example the upper of a footwear (shown with brokenlines in FIG. 3), which is preferably turned inside out before it isarranged around the shaped support 14, so that its inner surface isturned outside.

At least one waterproofing sheath 18 shaped for entirely or partiallycover the inner surface, preferably turned inside out, of thesemimanufactured product to be waterproofed, is in turn put on thelatter, so as to waterproof it when the pressing device 1 hot-pressesit. The outer surface of the shaped supports 14 is preferably providedwith at least one elastic, antiadherent and heat-resistant coating, inparticular made of silicone, and is shaped so as to adhere to thesurfaces of the semimanufactured product and to compensate theirirregularities, if any, for example caused by accessories such as metalloops or double applique, which create thickness irregularities andcontact discontinuities between the surfaces of the semimanufacturedproduct and sheath 18.

The surface of sheath 18 turned toward the semimanufactured product isprovided with a glue pattern which can be thermally activated by theheat of the pressing device 1 for the time necessary for the fusion ofthe glue and to its penetration into the material of thesemimanufactured product. In another embodiment, the glue can be sprayedonto the semimanufactured product before the latter is coupled withsheath 18.

In the present embodiment the glue pattern is made up of a plurality ofdots of polyurethane glue, having a diameter comprised between 0.1 mmand 2 mm and a density comprised between 10 dots/cm² and 200 dots/cm².In other embodiments of the present invention the glue pattern may bemade up of glue sprayed or arranged according to dot matrixes, also witha random pattern, or along mutually parallel and/or perpendicular lines.Sheath 18 preferably comprises at least one membrane made up of a sheetof a semi-permeable material, for instance made of polyurethane,polytetrafluoroethylene, polyester or other polymers, the thickness ofwhich is preferably comprised between 5 mm and 100 mm. In particular,the semi-permeable membrane of sheath 18 according to the presentembodiment of the invention is made of polyurethane. Further, it ispreferably elastic, with a coefficient of elongation higher than 50%, inparticular 100%, and it is non-porous, since it carries out the passageof the water vapor by osmosis, and therefore, differently form theporous membranes, the water passage is prevented even when it is pulledor bent. The surface of sheath 18 which is not provided with the gluepattern is generally fastened to a support sheet which avoids itspossible accidental breakage or bending before the application. Saidsheet can be made of paper and can be detached after that sheath 18 hasbeen adhered to the semimanufactured product. In other embodiments ofthe present invention, the support sheet can be made of differentmaterials, for example fabric or a similar material, preferably elastic,and be firmly fastened to sheath 18 if it is desired that thesemimanufactured product is internally lined at the end of theprocessing. Further information about the membrane used for sheath 18 iscontained in WO 00/22948 and WO 02/11571.

The shaped supports 14 can be expanded for stretching the surfaces ofthe semimanufactured product and of sheath 18 before they are pressed,so as to avoid wrinkles. For this purpose, each shaped support 14comprises at least one mobile member 19 suitable to be pushed outside byone or more pneumatic cylinders arranged in the same support.

If the semimanufactured product to be waterproofed is the upper of afootwear, the shaped support 14, as in the present embodiment, issimilar to a foot and the mobile member 19 is arranged in the positionof the heel and is fixed preferably in a removable manner to the shapedsupport 14 so as to substitute it with other mobile members havingdifferent sizes, so as to adapt the shaped support 14 to shoe uppershaving different sizes. The expansion of each shaped support 14 iscontrolled by a pedal 20, while it automatically retracts when carriage13 goes back to the start position and activates sensor 16.

One or more heating members 21, for example electrically heated plates,are preferably arranged inside the deformable plates 2, 2′ for furtherheating by conduction and convection the fluid contained therein, aswell as the pressing surfaces 3 by irradiation.

A pair of vertical containers 22, 22′ are arranged on both sides of thepressing device 1. Container 22 houses the control and security devicesof the electric circuit for cheating the heat exchanger 5 and theheating members 21, while container 22′ houses the control devices ofthe pneumatic circuit for driving the valves of the inlet ducts 4 and ofthe outlet ducts 10, 10, cylinders 9, carriages 13 and the mobilemembers 19 according to sensors 16. Also the deformable plates 2, 2′ arepreferably rotated in a pneumatic manner by two cylinders 23, 23′ hingedbetween the support structure 6 and arms 7, 7′, so that the working ofthe machine is completely automatic since the operator pushes a buttonof the control panel 17. Finally, a display panel 24 shows the workingparameters of the machine according to the present invention, inparticular the temperature and the pressure inside the deformable plates2, 2′.

The pressing device 1 is closed laterally by containers 22, 22′ and atthe back by the support structure 6, while platform 11 extendsfrontally; so as to prevent the accidental access to the pressing device1.

If the semimanufactured product to be waterproofed is a shoe upper,sheath 18 may consist of at least one piece of membrane cut with thesize of the inner surface of the upper and folded so as to superimposetwo edges thereof near the heel and/or the central front portion of theupper. Said edges are then hot-welded, for example by means of twoheated bars, before the pressing, so as to form at least one strip 25and give to sheath 18 a three-dimensional conformation similar to theupper to be waterproofed. A waterproofing tape is applied, in particularby means of hot-welding, astride strip 25 after the pressing forpreventing the water penetration through its edges.

In other embodiments of the present invention, sheath 18 is arranged onthe shaped support 14 with the surface provided with glue turnedoutside, after which the semimanufactured product is arranged on theshaped support 14, so that its inner surface contacts the outer surfaceof sheath 18 provided with glue. In this case, the glue can be activatedduring the pressing by heating means, for example one or more electricresistors, arranged in the shaped support 14.

Referring to FIG. 5, it is seen that a second shaped support for theprocess and the machine according to the present invention comprises ahorizontal guide 26 arranged on rod 15. A pair of shaped members 27, 28comprising the heel and the tip, respectively, of a feet can runlongitudinally on guide 26 in the direction of the horizontal arrows. Awedge 29 can further slide transversally between the shaped members 27,28 in the direction of the vertical arrow, so as to move away or nearthese shaped members 27, 28, for stretching or loosening, respectively,a semimanufactured product, in particular an upper, arranged with itssheath on the shaped members 27, 28.

Referring to FIG. 6, it is seen that a third shaped support comprises afirst shaped member 30 which is arranged on rod 15 and has a shapesubstantially equal to a hand portion including at least one finger, inparticular middle, ring and little fingers. At least one second shapedmember 31 having a shape substantially equal to a hand portion includingat least one finger, in particular forefinger and thumb, can be mountedonto the first shaped member 30, in particular with a dovetail joint 32,so that it is possible to slip the second shaped member 31 into a gloveprovided with the sheath and then insert the glove with the secondshaped member 31 onto the first shaped member 30 in the direction of thevertical arrow, until the two shaped members 30, 31 are mutuallycoupled, so as to stretch the glove.

Further changes and/or additions can be made by those skilled in the artto the hereinabove described and illustrated embodiments, whileremaining within the scope of the same invention.

1. Process for waterproofing semimanufactured footwear, clothing itemsand accessories, said semimanufactured product having athree-dimensional conformation with at least one inner surface and oneouter surface, characterized in that it comprises the followingoperative steps: arranging the semimanufactured product onto a shapedsupport (14; 27, 28; 30, 31) with at least one waterproofing sheath (18)shaped for entirely or partially cover the surfaces to be waterproofedof the semimanufactured product, at least one glue layer being arrangedbetween these surfaces and the waterproofing sheath (18); pressingbetween two deformable plates (2, 2′) the semimanufactured productprovided with the waterproofing sheath (18) and arranged on the shapedsupport (14; 27, 28; 30, 31).
 2. Process according to the previousclaim, characterized in that said glue is thermoactivable and is heatedduring the pressing so that the waterproofing sheath (18) is joined tothe semimanufactured product.
 3. Process according to one of theprevious claims, characterized in that the semimanufactured product isturned inside out before it is arranged on the shaped support (14; 27,28; 30, 31) so that its outer surface is turned toward the shapedsupport (14; 27, 28; 30, 31) and its inner surface is turned toward thewaterproofing sheath (18).
 4. Process according to one of the previousclaims, characterized in that the shaped support (14; 27, 28) isexpanded before the pressing.
 5. Process according to one of theprevious claims, characterized in that the outer surface of the shapedsupport (14; 27, 28; 30, 31) is provided with at least one elastic,antiadherent and heat-resistant coating.
 6. Process according to one ofthe previous claims, characterized in that the outer surface of theshaped support (14; 27, 28; 30, 31) is shaped so as to adhere to thesurfaces of the sewn manufactured product which are turned toward theshaped support (14; 27, 28; 30, 31) during the pressing and tocompensate their irregularities, if any.
 7. Process according to one ofthe previous claims, characterized in that the glue is distributed ontothe waterproofing sheath (18) before the latter is coupled with thesemimanufactured product.
 8. Process according to claim 7, characterizedin that the glue is distributed onto the waterproofing sheath (18) in adiscontinuous manner, in particular as a glue pattern.
 9. Processaccording to one of the previous claims, characterized in that thewaterproofing sheath (18) comprises at least one membrane made of asemi-permeable material.
 10. Process according to claim 9, characterizedin that said semi-permeable membrane is non-porous and carries out thepassage of the water vapor by osmosis.
 11. Process according to claim 9or 10, characterized in that the waterproofing sheath (18) comprises anelastic fabric coupled with said semi-permeable membrane.
 12. Processaccording to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that thewaterproofing sheath (18) comprises at least one piece of semi-permeablemembrane which is cut with the size of the inner surface of thesemimanufactured product and is folded so as to superimpose two edgeswhich are welded before the pressing so as to form at least one strip(25) and give to the waterproofing sheath (18) a three-dimensionalconformation similar to the semimanufactured product arranged on theshaped support (14; 27, 28; 30, 31).
 13. Process according to claim 12,characterized in that a waterproofing tape is applied astride said strip(25) after the pressing.
 14. Semimanufactured footwear, clothing item oraccessory, characterized in that it is waterproofed by means of theprocess according to one of the previous claims.
 15. Footwear upper,characterized in that it is waterproofed by means of the processaccording to one of claims 1 to
 13. 16. Shoe, characterized in that itcomprises an upper according to claim
 15. 17. Glove, characterized inthat it is waterproofed by means of the process according to one ofclaims 1 to
 13. 18. Machine for waterproofing semimanufactured footwear,clothing items and accessories, which is provided with a pressing device(1) having at least one pair of deformable plates (2, 2′) comprising ahollow body, the pressing surface (3) of which is elastic and suitablefor being urged outwards by a fluid under pressure, characterized inthat at least one of said deformable plates (2, 2′) is fixed in a mobilemanner to a support structure (6) for opening or closing the pressingdevice (1) around at least one shaped support (14; 27, 28; 30, 31) whichis provided with transport means (12, 12′, 13) to and from said pressingdevice (1) and is suitable for supporting said semimanufactured productduring the pressing with at least one waterproofing sheath (18). 19.Machine according to claim 18, characterized in that said pressingdevice (1) is provided with heating means for activating at least onelayer of thermoactivable glue arranged between the semimanufacturedproduct and the waterproofing sheath (18).
 20. Machine according toclaim 18 or 19, characterized in that said shaped support (14; 27, 28;30, 31) is provided with heating means for activating at least one layerof thermoactivable glue arranged between the semimanufactured productand the waterproofing sheath (18).
 21. Machine according to one ofclaims 18 to 20, characterized in that one or both deformable plates (2,2′) are pivoted to the support structure (6) so as to rotate for openingor closing the pressing device (1).
 22. Machine according to one ofclaims 18 to 21, characterized in that the rotation axis of one or bothdeformable plates (2, 2′) is substantially vertical.
 23. Machineaccording to one of claims 18 to 22, characterized in that bothdeformable plates (2, 2′) rotate around a same axis.
 24. Machineaccording to one of claims 18 to 23, characterized in that a pluralityof arms (7, 7′) are fixed outside the deformable plates (2, 2′) so thatan arm (7′) of a deformable plate (2′) is arranged between two arms (7)of the other deformable plate (2).
 25. Machine according to claim 24,characterized in that the end of the arms (7, 7′) close to the supportstructure (6) is provided with a hole in which a pin (8), around whichthe deformable plates (2, 2′) can rotate, is inserted.
 26. Machineaccording to claim 24 or 25, characterized in that the end of the arms(7, 7′) opposite to the support structure (6) is provided with a hole inwhich the piston of one or more cylinders (9), acting as bolts forlocking the deformable plates (2, 2′) when they are closed, canpenetrate.
 27. Machine according to one of claims 18 to 26,characterized in that the transport means (12, 12′, 13) of the shapedsupport (14; 27, 28; 30, 31) comprise at least one rail (12) on which acarriage (13), on which is in turn mounted the shaped support (14; 27,28; 30, 31), can run.
 28. Machine according to claim 27, characterizedin that said transport means (12, 12′, 13) comprise two rails (12, 12′)for alternately transporting two shaped supports (14; 27, 28; 30, 31) inthe same position between the deformable plates (2, 2′) of the pressingdevice (1).
 29. Machine according to claim 28, characterized in that thetwo rails (12, 12′) converge toward the pressing device (1).
 30. Machineaccording to one of claims 18 to 29, characterized in that the shapedsupport (14; 27, 28) can be expanded before it is pressed in thepressing device (1).
 31. Machine according to one of claims 18 to 30,characterized in that the shaped support (14) comprises at least onemobile member (19) suitable for being pushed outwards by one or morecylinders arranged in the same support.
 32. Machine according to claim31, characterized in that the shaped support (14) is similar to a footand the mobile member (19) is arranged in the position of the heel. 33.Machine according to claim 32, characterized in that the mobile member(19) is fixed in a removable manner to the shaped support (14) so as tosubstitute it with other mobile members having different sizes, so as toadapt the shaped support (14) to shoe uppers having different sizes. 34.Machine according to one of claims 18 to 33, characterized in that theshaped support (27, 28) comprises a pair of shaped members (27, 28)which can run on a guide (26) according to the position of a wedge (29)which can slide between these shaped members (27, 28).
 35. Machineaccording to claim 34, characterized in that the shapes of said shapedsupports (27, 28) comprise the heel and the tip, respectively, of afoot.
 36. Machine according to one of claims 18 to 29, characterized inthat the shaped support (30, 31) comprises a first shaped member (30) onwhich a second shaped member (31) can be mounted, said second shapedmember (31) being suitable for being inserted into the semimanufacturedproduct to be waterproofed before said mounting.
 37. Machine accordingto claim 36, characterized in that the first and the second shapedsupport (30, 31) have a shape substantially equal to a hand portionincluding at least one finger.
 38. Machine according to claim 37,characterized in that the first shaped support (30) includes middle,ring and little fingers and the second shaped support (30, 31) includesforefinger and thumb.
 39. Machine according to one of claims 19 to 38,characterized in that said heating means comprise one or more inletducts (4) provided with valves for introducing into the deformableplates (2, 2′) compressed air heated by at least one heat exchanger (5),as well as at least one outlet duct (10, 10′) provided with a valve fordischarging this compressed air outside.
 40. Machine according to one ofclaims 19 to 39, characterized in that said heating means comprise oneor more one or more heating members (21) arranged inside the deformableplates (2, 2′) for heating the fluid contained therein by conduction andconvection, as well as the pressing surfaces (3) by irradiation. 41.Machine according to one of claims 19 to 40, characterized in that saidheating means comprise one or more electric resistors arranged in theshaped member (14; 27, 28; 30, 31).
 42. Machine according to one ofclaims 18 to 41, characterized in that the devices (9, 12, 12′, 23, 23′)for the movement of the mobile components (2, 2′, 13, 19) of the machineitself are driven in a pneumatic manner.
 43. Machine according to one ofclaims 18 to 42, characterized in that the pressing device (1) is closedlaterally by a pair of containers (22, 22′), at the end by the supportstructure (6), and below by a platform (11) extending frontally, so asto prevent the accidental access to the pressing device (1).
 44. Machineaccording to one of claims 18 to 43, characterized in that the outersurface of the shaped support (14; 27, 28; 30, 31) is provided with atleast one elastic, antiadherent and heat-resistant coating.
 45. Machineaccording to one of claims 18 to 44, characterized in that the outersurface of the shaped support (14; 27, 28; 30, 31) is shaped so as toadhere to the surfaces of the semimanufactured product which are turnedtoward the shaped support (14; 27, 28; 30, 31) during the pressing andto compensate their irregularities, if any.
 46. Semimanufacturedfootwear, clothing item or accessory, characterized in that it iswaterproofed by means of the machine according to one of claims 18 to45.
 47. Footwear upper, characterized in that it is waterproofed bymeans of the machine according to one of claims 18 to
 45. 48. Shoe,characterized in that it comprises an upper according to claim
 47. 49.Glove, characterized in that it is waterproofed by means of the machineaccording to one of claims 18 to 45.